The Tánaiste Simon Coveney has said that "significant gaps" remain between the European Union and the United Kingdom on Brexit.
Mr Coveney was speaking from Brussels this afternoon following a meeting with the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier.
They both described it as a good meeting and stated the need for serious workable solutions from the UK on how to break the Brexit impasse.
Mr Coveney also warned that "time was running out" for securing a deal.
He said: "The clear message I would have got from Michel Barnier today is that his team and he himself are available 24/7 to negotiate towards trying to get a deal done, but that has to be on the basis of a serious proposal coming forward from the UK side and that hasn't happened."
Good meeting as ever with @MichelBarnier - EU is united in wanting a fair #Brexit deal + is ready to negotiate 24/7, but needs to receive serious proposals from the UK to close the wide gaps between EU and UK positions on WA. Ireland’s position remains consistent. https://t.co/rJEgPVugOC
— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) September 27, 2019
He said that until Britain put forward "a serious proposal in writing that can be the basis for negotiation", then the gaps between both sides would remain.
"Time is running out, and we need to move this process on.
He said it was the responsibility of the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his team to table proposals so that negotiations could begin on a way of getting a deal done.
Mr Coveney said: "If it's not possible [to get a deal] then the focus will shift on to whether or not an extension is appropriate.
"From an Irish perspective, we think an extension is preferable to no deal but I think there would need to be good reason behind that to ask for an extension.
"Our focus is...to get a managed Brexit that moves us into a transition period for the next two to four years, that creates for time and space to hopefully design a future relationship that's good for everybody," he said.
However, he said that the two sides "are quite a long way apart".
The UK's Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay also met with Michel Barnier today.
He said the discussions were constructive but there is "still a long way to go", and "the moment of truth" in talks with the EU is approaching.
We need to get Brexit done so we can move this country forward & focus on our priorities - the NHS, policing & schools. pic.twitter.com/78GaKVngJm
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) September 26, 2019
Meanwhile, the Boris Johnson has said that legislation he refers to as the "surrender act" has made it more difficult to get a Brexit deal with the EU.
The bill is designed to stop Britain separating from Brussels without an agreement in place.
The British Prime Minister said that the way to make politics calmer is to get Brexit done by the end of October.
However, politicians have said his description of the law is inflammatory, with Labour MP Jess Phillips stating that his comments are not helping.
Ms Phillips. who has received deaths threats overnight and whose constituency office was attacked, said the fiery debate over Brexit risks causing further violence.
